In conversation with Harbour House

We caught up with Harbour House owners Tamara Costin and William Speed as we get ready to launch our Pub Perfection Collection. Read more about the history of Harbour House, and why our vintage lights were the perfect addition to this characterful pub.

In conversation with Florian Gadsby

As we gear up to launch our Artist’s Edit collaboration with Florian Gadsby, we caught up with the London-based ceramicist to talk about the joy of vintage, and how his transparent approach to craftsmanship has earned him millions of fans. 

skinflint Meets

Journey to the Bauhaus

Join us on a design pilgrimage to the heart of the Bauhaus, as we uncover the movement that left a lasting impact on industrial and interior design, including many of the vintage lights we salvage and restore today.

Lighting History

Lights lost in history: Tales from the Eastern Bloc

There's a fascinating history and heritage behind the lights we salvage. Join us on a journey to the Eastern Bloc.

Revealing Beauty: The English Home

If you think you recognise this elegant townhouse you might just be right… Our vintage lights feature in this 19th-century captain’s home in Falmouth, as seen in The English Home magazine.

In the press| Interiors

A fresh take on neutrals this spring

Ushering in longer, lighter days with our latest Nuanced Neutrals collection of vintage lights, celebrating the understated finer details that only come with authentic heritage and age.

Interiors

Our vintage lighting props on the big screen (part 1)

Celebrating our official sponsorship of the British Film Designers Guild (BFDG), we look back on a successful year supplying our restored vintage lights as props for TV and film.

Prop Hire

Day in the life: Rosy Seal, prop hire engineer

Speaking to the British Film Designer's Guild, skinflint's workshop team member Rosy reveals what goes on behind the scenes restoring our original vintage lights ready for prop hire for TV and film.

Prop Hire

Make An Entrance with vintage lighting

First impressions always count and lighting design can make or break an interior. Make an Entrance with our new collection of vintage lights built to last.

Interiors| Lighting advice

The creators who put Czechoslovakian design on the map

Inspiring our latest Czech Creators vintage lighting collection, join us on a trip to the National Technical Museum in Prague, where we uncover 20th century metalworkers Franta Anýž, NAPAKO and Josef Hůrka’s greatest works.

Interiors| Lighting History

skinflint Full Circle buy-back scheme makes the Evening Standard top 10

Drum roll please...our buy-back scheme Full Circle has been included in the Evening Standard’s 10 of the best interior buy-back and repair schemes alongside household names such as Ikea and John Lewis!

B Corp

skinflint x Dodds & Shute: A sustainability match made in hotel heaven

Meet The Retreat Collection, a range of vintage lights curated specifically for hotel bedrooms, lounges, lobbies, restaurants, and entrances.

In conversation with Nick & Stefan at Dodds & Shute

Ahead of The Retreat collection launch, we catch up with Nick and Stefan, the duo striving to bring sustainability to the forefront of the industry.

The resilient legacy of vintage Czech lighting

Our latest Czech Crystal: Bohemian Origins collection features vintage lights that came from an era of defiance, where artistic vision slipped through the cracks and flourished through the Bohemian tradition of glassmaking.

A Modern Lounge: Creating a room to entertain

Whether it's a lavish dinner party or a cosy night in, let us guide you through how to use vintage lighting to create a multifunctional space in a flick of a switch with our new collection, The Lounge.

Art Deco lights: Standing the test of time

Art Deco pieces aren’t just unique for their aesthetic; our new Art Deco Collection features vintage lights with remarkable salvage stories from the little county of Norfolk, UK…

Lighting History

Fawley Power Station: Sci-fi on Set

The vintage lights we’ve salvaged from the now demolished Fawley Power Station are no stranger to movie magic. Join skinflint’s prop hire team on a journey through Fawley’s star-studded buildings and the lights that once called them home. 

B Corp

Fawley Power Station: Salvaging Vintage Lights from an Industrial Icon.

The vintage lights we’ve salvaged from the now demolished Fawley Power Station are ingrained with the iconically industrial story of their birthplace. Join us on our journey through this exceptional site.

Lighting History

Beyond Retro: Bringing retro styles to modern interiors

Modern Retro is in! Our experts cherry pick the best retro lighting trends, curating considered interiors that transcend design fads.

Interiors

Period Living: Beside the Seaside

Exploring what it takes to transform a kitchen into a nautical haven, featuring skinflint’s 1920s Holophane pendant lights and Plain English.

In the press

When Minimalism Meets Mid-Century Modern

Minimal vintage lights with big stories to tell… We delve i​​​​nto the two timeless design movements behind our latest collection of salvaged finds - and how to achieve the look at home.

Interiors

A final farewell to RAF Scampton

A journey through time of this iconic site, from the launch-pad of The Dambuster Raid, to the home of the Red Arrows - and the lucky salvage of an astonishing array of airfield runway lights.

Lighting History

skinflint gift vouchers

Our newly launched gift cards are now available for purchase! Available to use on our entire range of vintage lights; our vouchers are the perfect gift for the eco-conscious.

News

Creative ways with vintage enamel pendant lights

The skinflint team share their favourite ways to get creative with the vintage classic - from hanging at asymmetric heights, to playing with different flex colours, suspension methods and more.

Lighting advice

Planet Pay Back Promotion: 20% off

This Black Friday, we're doing #PlanetPayBack. It means you'll get 20% off our full range of lights and we'll also donate 20% to charity. It's a genuinely good deal for you, and the planet.

B Corp

A buyer’s guide to vintage lighting

Authentic vintage lighting is not only about heritage and age, but timeless design and solid engineering too. Our guide explains what to look for when choosing a vintage light.

Lighting advice

Kitchen lighting design ideas

Helpful ideas and tips for creating your own kitchen lighting scheme from the lighting designers at skinflint.

Lighting advice

The History of Art Deco Lighting

Tracing the history of Art Deco lighting and the iconic design aesthetic to piece together the story of our newly restored pieces in our collection.

Lighting History

Our 2022 B Corp Impact Report

Our 2022 B Corp impact report is here!

Sustainability

A history of heat lamps

From the Ancient Egyptians to modern-day uses - Dr. Tania Woloshyn traces the fascinating medical history of our heat lamps.

Lighting History

How to create an inspiring home office

Working from home is here to stay, and creating a dedicated and inspirational home office space now more important than ever. It's easy to achieve with these simple tips from our lighting and stylist experts.

Lighting advice

Czech Bohemian glass: Tracing the origins of a collector’s piece

Salvaging our vintage 1960s Bohemian glass chandeliers and pendant lights sets our lighting experts on a journey to discover more about the illustrious movement.

Lighting History

Lights Organised Neatly: 009

The latest in our series of Lights Organised Neatly features our oxide lighting range including our Oxidised Hungarian factory shades and British pendants by REVO.

Lights Organised Neatly

It's official! We're a Certified B Corporation™

We’re proud to announce that we have officially received our B Corp™ Certification. Read about the rigorous application process and what happens next.

B Corp

Bedroom Lighting Ideas

Our lighting experts offer advice on how to light a bedroom that’s truly suited to your needs, whether that’s for working from home, or relaxing and unwinding in.

Lighting advice

How to light a small or narrow space

More useful tips on lighting - from hallways and entrances to creating space with light - in our expert guide to lighting small and narrow spaces.

Lighting advice

Irish Examiner: Vintage View

Our vintage cut glass chandeliers have been included for their authentic 1970s nostalgia and vintage style.

In the press

skinflint joins 1% for the Planet

Each year we'll be donating 1% of sales to a range of carefully considered nonprofits, creating positive environmental impact and change.

Sustainability

Our top 5 circular economy initiatives

It’s been 12 months since our Full Circle product buy-back scheme launched - and we’ve been blown away with the response. Feeling inspired, we share our favourite innovative companies using circular initiatives to change the way we think, use and consume.

Sustainability

Why we won't be participating in Black Friday

Every November the chaos of Black Friday descends upon us causing needless over-consumption. This year we hope you’ll join us in making a stand, by buying nothing and repairing something instead. #GreenFriday

Sustainability

Darc Magazine: Reclaimed Beauty

Darc talks to skinflint co-founder Chris Miller about our Industrial LED Lights by Benjamin salvaged from Eggborough Power Station and how we restore lights for the modern market.

In the press

Join us at Heal’s Festival of Light

Showcasing an exciting collection of new vintage lighting finds, online and in-store at Heal's Festival of Light this 11-31 October.

News

‘End of an era’: Salvaged lights from Eggborough Power Station

We dig deep into the history of coal-fired Eggborough Power Station - an iconic and recently demolished iconic Yorkshire landmark that was once home to our latest haul of salvaged lights.

Architecture| Lighting History

The Observer: Prepare to Repair

skinflint is mentioned as part of the repair movement leading the way in minimising fast consumerism through restoration.

In the press

YOU Magazine: Ali Heath’s 18th-century Surrey townhouse

Inside the cool and collected 18th-century townhouse that interiors expert Ali Heath calls home.

Architecture| In the press

The Observer: Ethical homewares

Our vintage opaline pendant lights and 1950s enamelled factory shades feature in The Observer's ethical homeware edit.

In the press

Remodelista: Kitchen of the Week

Our vintage Czech hotel pendant lights have received lots of attention after featuring in US online-magazine Remodelista’s ‘Kitchen of the Week’.

In the press

Lighting up London’s entertainment industry

Theatre legend and iconic entertainment landmarks - a trip into our lighting archive reveals the fascinating heritage behind our vintage theatre lighting collection.

Architecture| Lighting History

FAQs about our operations during Covid-19

We remain fully operational during Covid-19. Here is a list of frequently asked questions relating to dispatch and our operations during this period.

News

Sustainable vintage lighting brands

Sustainable and ethical interiors, featuring our vintage reclaimed lighting collection.

In the press

Full Circle wins at the Build Back Better Awards

Our buy-back initiative has won Gold & Green at the Build Back Better Awards, an exciting new initiative championing innovation, creative design and social purpose in the lighting industry.

In the press

Why we’ve signed the Better Business Act

The Better Business Act is calling to transform the way we do business, so that every single company in the UK, whether big or small, takes ownership of its social and environmental impact. Join us.

Sustainability

skinflint joins the ‘Circular’ podcast

Our co-founder Chris Miller joins Katie Treggiden for the launch of Season Two of her podcast ‘Circular’ - a concept we’re of course rather passionate about. This season, the focus is on repair.

In the press

Our journey to becoming B Corp certified

We’re leading the lighting industry joining a global movement of companies using business as a force for good.

Sustainability

Mad About the House: Ethical Lights

Sustainability is very important to us at skinflint, so we're pleased to have been featured in Kate Watson-Smyth’s (aka Mad About the House) special blog on ethical lighting sites.

In the press

Home working desk and lighting giveaway

Celebrating the launch of our Home Working Lighting collection, we’ve teamed up with hand-crafted furniture brand Less is Better for a special giveaway.

Stuff We Love

Lookbook: Crystal glassware lights

A look at our new crystal glassware finds, featuring hand-cut, prismatic and patterned glass pieces including chandeliers from the famed Bohemia glassworks of Lustry Kamenicky Senov.

Interiors

Behind the scenes: Rosy Seal, Product Development Engineer

Celebrating International Women's Day, we share our product development engineer Rosy Seal's conversation with KBB Magazine, all about the skill, patience and hours of work that go into restoring our vintage lights.

Lighting advice

Period Living: Leading Light

One of our original Retro Cut-Glass Chandeliers is featured in Period Living magazine's Leading Light feature about adding elegance and glamour to your hone.

In the press

Three steps to finding the perfect retro chandelier

Chandeliers can be incredibly versatile if you follow the three simple steps from our lighting experts.

Lighting advice

Inspiring greatness: Lighting up Rolls-Royce

Unearthing archive photographs of our vintage lights in situ at one of our all-time favourite salvage locations - the Rolls Royce site in Derby.

Lighting History

House & Garden: Lifestyle - Chris and Sophie Miller

In House & Gardens' latest lifestyle feature Ros Byam Shaw offers us an insight into the lives of skinflint co-founders Chris and Sophie Miller. From the set up of skinflint to their passion for sustainable living.

In the press

Reclaim: Lamps & Lighting

Our German Cargo ship lights and Opaline glass wall lights are featured in Reclaim magazines 55th issue. Find us in their Lamps & Lighting segment.

In the press

Hallway lighting ideas

Helpful ideas and tips for your hallway lighting scheme from the lighting designers at skinflint.

Lighting advice

House and Garden: Back to Life

Our elegant glass & bakelite teardrop pendants are featured in House & Garden's January issue exploring the latest ethical finds.

In the press

Subversive Photography: Bernt and Hilla Becher's Water Towers

Continuing our commitment to tackling the ongoing climate crisis, we're donating to small and smart local initiatives like this one - and you can help too.

News

Lighting social spaces in the post-Covid world

Our lighting experts offer their advice on how to physically, but not socially, distance diners and office workers using clever spatial design and lighting.

Lighting advice

Creating zones at home using lighting

We cover the important principles of dividing and separating work areas from relaxation spaces in our guide - simple steps that can help aid personal wellbeing, as well as the function and enjoyment of each room.

Lighting advice

End-of-life luminaires: Taking our responsibilities seriously - a panel discussion

Keen to keep pushing the agenda of sustainability within the lighting industry, we’re pleased to be joining industry experts for a panel discussion on the 1st December to discuss #thecirculareconomy.

News

skinflint meets: Bella Dunne, Yesterday Today

As part of our #circulareconomy and Skinflint Meets series, we talk to upcoming Elle Decoration featured designer Bella Dunne about breathing new life into vintage fabrics, and what it means to repair, mend and restore.

skinflint Meets

Our eco gift guide

From vintage finds and spreading positive news, to experiences and carbon-offsetting vouchers, the skinflint team share their Christmas wishlist with sustainability the number one priority.

Sustainability

Elle Decoration: In the Green Room

Our vintage lights and buy-back scheme are in Elle Decoration's 'In the Green Room' feature, all about how the interiors industry is designing a more sustainable future.

In the press

The Daily Telegraph: Today’s objects of desire

Featured as one of the heirlooms of the future in The Daily Telegraph. Also featured are our Decorative Czech Chandeliers and Full Circle buy-back scheme.

In the press

Shortlisted as Lighting Supplier of the Year in this year’s Lux Awards

We’re delighted to have been shortlisted as Lighting Supplier of the Year by the prestigious Lux Awards.

News

ES Magazine: Design For All

Our Czech bubble glass pendants are featured in the Evening Standard's ES Magazine design special. Find us in their Little Black Book of Interiors segment.

In the press

Why keep existing products in circulation?

The launch of our Full Circle buy-back scheme completes the loop on the lifecycle of our vintage lights. But what if this circular concept could be applied to the whole of our economy to help tackle the climate crisis? Well, it can. #circulareconomy

News

Swan Lane Mills: The story of a cotton mill and our pendant lights

Salvaging lights takes us to the most intriguing locations. As part of our Industrial Heritage Collection, we step inside the 19th century Swan Lane Mills in Bolton - once the largest cotton spinning mill in the world.

Lighting History

Financial Times: Meet the new antiquarians

We've been profiled in Financial Times' latest House & Home segment, including our 1930s antique operating light by Franta Anyz.

In the press

Country Living Vintage Home

Two of our industrial style lights have been featured in the latest issue of Country Living Vintage Home.

In the press

The history behind our 1950s industrial Lobnitz Dock pendant lights

Our latest industrial pendant lights take us into the rich past of the Lobnitz Dock, a 19th century shipyard located on the River Clyde.

Lighting History

skinflint meets: Justin Salisbury, Artist Residence

From its grassroot beginnings to today, our relationship with Artist Residence hotels is one we’re rather proud of. We catch up with founder and ‘accidental hotelier’ Justin Salisbury to find out more.

skinflint Meets

skinflint meets: Clayworks

From earth cob houses to creating unique sustainable clay plaster surfaces for architects and brands around the globe - meet Clayworks.

Architecture| skinflint Meets

How to create the mid-century modern look

Clean simple lines, high functionality and a timeless design - how to create the mid-century modern look using contrasts, colours, shapes and form.

Lighting advice

Enter our mid-century modern giveaway

Celebrating the launch of our mid-century lighting collection, we’ve teamed up with interiors brand Mini Moderns to give you the chance to win one of our vintage lights as well as one of two signed copies of their book.

News

Livingetc: The home of Paula Barners

Our original antique copper GECoRAY wall light has been featured in Livingetc's latest issue.

In the press

Livingetc: National Treasures

Livingetc has named skinflint as a 'national treasure' in their latest August issue.

In the press

Homebuilding & Renovation: Suistainable interiors

Our British textile mill pendants have been featured in Homebuilding & Renovating's 'Sustainable interiors' segment in their latest issue.

In the press

Period Living: Reclaiming the Past

Period Living recently spoke to our co-director Sophie Millier in search of expert advice for their 'Reclaiming the past' segment in their latest issue.

In the press

House & Garden: Lovingly designed and decorated interiors

Two of our vintage glass chandeliers have been featured in House & Gardens double July & August issue.

In the press

How to style vintage fluorescent lighting

From dimmable wall-mounted bedside lights to illuminating kitchen island units, vintage fluorescent lighting is more versatile than you think. Learn how to style them into any space.

Lighting advice

skinflint Polishers

A behind the scenes look at some of the workmanship which goes into our lights.

News

Elle Decoration: A Brighter Future

Elle Decorations introduces skinflint's upcoming product circularity scheme which allows customers to sell back their lights and help preserve their heritage and history.

In the press

Withdean industrial pendant lighting

As a part of the ‘For The Love Of Scrubs’ project, skinflint is joining thousands of volunteers in order to provide NHS Staff members with hospital scrubs.

News

Covid-19’s positive environmental impact on our business

During these disruptive times we are remaining optimistic and providing an update on how Covid-19 is having a positive environmental impact on our business.

News

On location with Darren Holden

Exploring Manchester’s lost textile mills - on location in the second part of our interview with documentary photographer Darren Holden.

Architecture

Our response to Covid-19

Updates on how the skinflint team are dealing with the Covid-19 situation, including the latest on our service and operations.

News

Homes & Antiques: Relaxed Grandeur

Our vintage 1950s Czech opaline globes are featured in Homes & Antiques 'Go Green!' April issue.

In the press

Vintage Explorer: Holy Holophane

Two of our industrial Holophane pendants and bulkheads are featured in the 'Holy Holophane' segment in Vintage Explorer's latest issue.

In the press

How to use statement lighting in your home

From basic lighting 101 to layering up with lights, this is our expert guide to using statement lighting in your home.

Lighting advice

Homes & Gardens: Secret Address Book

skinflint has been named as the best place for antique industrial lighting in the UK by Homes & Gardens Magazine.

In the press

The restoration story of our SS20 Collection

Our vintage lighting experts delve into original manufacturers’ catalogues in order to restore the Art Deco tiered pendant lights in our newly launched SS20 collection.

Lighting History

Mini Moderns: Mid-Century Modern Living

Mini Moderns new book Mid-Century Modern Living focuses on creating modern spaces using influences from the past, featuring a trio of our retro glass lights.

In the press

A day in the life of... the skinflint workshop

We take ten minutes with the workshop team and find out why there’s no such thing as a typical day in ‘the office’ at skinflint.

News

REVO classic British industrial lighting

Spanning 60 years and two World Wars, REVO lights encompass a huge range of design styles. Here's a short history of an iconic brand that is as popular today as it ever was.

Lighting History

skinflint Meets: Tom Faulkner, Furniture Maker

The latest edition of our skinflint Meets series sees us catching up with furniture maker, Tom Faulkner, talking design heroes and a passion for using metal.

skinflint Meets

KBB Magazine cover: Putting down roots

Suszi Saunders on introducing a vegan way of life to her decor, featuring our reclaimed Czech opaline pendant lights above the kitchen island.

In the press

Foodies Magazine: Creative Design

Featured in Foodies latest Creative Design segment is skinflint's 1970s retro Czech pendant - recommended by fashion designer Malene Birger.

In the press

Grand Designs: Architectural Salvage

What do look for, and what to avoid, when investing in reclaimed and vintage finds, featuring expert comment from skinflint co-founder Chris Miller.

In the press

skinflint Meets: Luke Locke-Wheaton, Lighting Designer

From brightly-lit airports to the subtle ambiance of living rooms at home, lighting undoubtedly has an emotional impact on your space. Lighting designer Luke Locke-Wheaton explains more in our next installment of skinflint meets.

skinflint Meets

Lights Organised Neatly: 010

The latest in our series of Lights Organised Neatly features our 1930s Art Deco chandelier, an elegant opaline chandelier and a round and square prismatic glass pendant.

Lights Organised Neatly

Right to repair: exploring mending and restoration

Do we have a right to repair the things we own? As more of us wake up to conscious consumerism, our panel discussion at Clerkenwell Design Week aimed to answer just that.

Sustainability

The results of the skinflint Carbon Audit 2019

Follow our journey to becoming a carbon-neutral company, in which we have pledged to become net carbon neutral business asap, and at the latest by 2025.

Sustainability

skinflint Meets: Nicola Broughton, Interior Design Blogger

Award-winning interior design blogger Nicola Broughton, aka The Girl with the Green Sofa, on how she decorates with colour, confidence and sustainability in mind to create a haven of relaxation at home.

skinflint Meets

Our Christmas charitable donation

This year 10% of all proceeds from our End of Year Sale will be topping-up annual donation to a worthwhile cause. For 2019 we are supporting Possible who inspire climate action.

Sustainability

Christmas gift guide

Give reclaimed this Christmas with a collection of original vintage lights that eco-conscious individuals will love - we’ve got something for every style and budget.

Interiors

Lookbook: Iconic Designs

Introducing our iconic lighting designs - discover our AW19 collection of classic and versatile pieces which continue to stand the test of time.

Interiors

skinflint declares a climate emergency

We know that others passionately share our commitment to looking after our planet, but we must all step up our commitment to addressing climate breakdown. We need to take action now.

Sustainability

Why we’re striking for the climate

skinflint is joining millions of others walking out of their homes and workplaces this Friday 20 September as part of the Global Climate Strike.

Sustainability

Win a Bauhaus-style vintage pendant light

We’ve teamed up with Reclaim Magazine for a special giveaway celebrating our AW19 collection of iconic lighting designs.

News

Livingetc: We're watching

Livingetc: We're watching features skinflint's retro glass Czech pendants and Eastern bloc machinist lights.

In the press

Livingetc: The edited choice

Livingetc's May issue includes 'The edited choice'; a piece that highlights an array of globe pendants ideal as feature pieces for kitchen islands.

In the press

Choosing the right lightbulb for your vintage light

Once you’ve found your perfect vintage lighting fixture, the right bulb is vital to completing the look. Here’s how to make the best and most sustainable choice.

Lighting advice

Period Living: Hungarian piggery shades

Country brocante - mixing reclaimed finds with new pieces, featuring skinflint's vintage Hungarian piggery lights.

In the press

1960's Retro ceiling lights salvaged from a Midlands Civic Centre

Vintage 60's dimpled glass globe lights salvaged from a Civic Centre in the UK's Midlands.

News

Reclaim Magazine: Railway light lenses

Reclaim's latest edit, featuring beautiful salvaged finds including skinflint's Reclaimed railway light lenses.

In the press

skinflint Meets: Jess Hurrell, interiors blogger

Journalist turned award-winning interiors blogger Jess Hurrell, a.k.a. Gold is a Neutral, on home renovation challenges and how to make an entrance with statement lighting.

skinflint Meets

Minimalism in Practice

If you are looking to take your own home from maxed out to minimal, it can be difficult to decide what should stay and what should go - here are some tips.

Stuff We Love

skinflint meets: Design Journalist Katie Treggiden

We catch up with design journalist Katie Treggiden, and chat everything from studying Design History at Oxford to designers she’d invite to dinner.

Architecture| skinflint Meets

American Portable Runway Light

A short history of the rare U.S.A.F. 'Bartow' or HILV landing light.

Lighting History

Darren Holden - documentary photographer

The thrill of documenting Britain’s lost industrial past - part one of our interview with photographer Darren Holden.

Architecture

A history of angled ceiling lights

Originally designed to illuminate signs, shop windows and industrial workspaces of an increasingly urbanised early twentieth-century Britain - as this trip into the skinflint lighting archive illustrates.

Architecture| Lighting History

At home with skinflint founders, Sophie and Chris

A low-impact home with heaps of character and style that sits perfectly with the personality and ethos of skinflint founders, Sophie and Chris.

Interiors

House & Garden: skinflint vintage lighting

Editor Hatta Byng speaks to the Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury about their eclectic transformation of the riding stables St. Giles House in Dorset - featuring skinflint lights throughout.

In the press

‘Right to Repair’ panel talk at CDW19

Design journalist Katie Treggiden, V&A artist-in-residence Bridget Harvey and skinflint co founder Chris Miller explore visible mending, the stories in restored objects and design for repair at Clerkenwell Design Week 2019.

News

Clerkenwell pop up May 2019

Previewing our AW19 Iconic Designs as well as other newly reclaimed and refurbished finds in London’s creative hub this 13-31 May. Plus, RSPV to our ‘Right to Repair’ panel talk at Clerkenwell Design Week.

News

skinflint meets: Katy Orme, Apartment Apothecary

The interior blogger on renovating her 1930s townhouse and creating a stylish interior, in our next installment of skinflint meets.

skinflint Meets

Open Studio at skinflint

Throwing open the doors on Wednesday 17 April from 10am-4pm to celebrate our tenth anniversary. Plus your chance to pick up one of our Last on the Shelf sale lights.

News

Vintage British Lighting

Here at skinflint we have always been fascinated by the history of British manufacturing. Many of the vintage lights we salvage come from the old industrial heartland of England where factories now stand empty. These images show you a few of the settings our lights originally called home.

Architecture

Light Organised Neatly: 008

The latest in our series of Lights Organised Neatly features small giftable pendant lighting, including reclaimed railway light lenses and classic British enamel pendant lights.

Lights Organised Neatly

skinflint meets: Rohini Wahi, founder and editor of The Beat That My Heart Skipped

The next in our series skinflint Meets features journalist Rohini Wahi. Rohini is the founder of design and inspiration blog The Beat That My Heart Skipped and new Indian-inspired lifestyle brand Napeansea.

skinflint Meets

skinflint Meets: Eva Sonaike

Bringing colour to life with interior lifestyle designer, Eva Sonaike. Next in our series of skinflint meets.

skinflint Meets

Top interiors and design blogs

At skinflint we keep an eye on beautiful inspiring design blogs, looking for everything from furniture to textiles and we're always on the hunt for the rare and unusual.

Interiors

Elle Decoration - sculpted glass

Elle Decoration's lighting trends - discovering the best in translucent sculpted glass lighting, including skinflint's Retro Czech pendant lights.

In the press

skinflint meets: Textile Designer Margo Selby

Read on to find out about how Margo started her business, why she rarely wears anything other than black, and which are her favourite skinflint lights.

skinflint Meets

skinflint meets: Heather Scott, designer

Designs worth passing down and striking the work-life balance, in our next instalment of skinflint meets

skinflint Meets

Latest releases: British industrial lighting

The latest restored lighting from the skinflint workshop, including classic 1950s vintage enamelled pendants from manufacturers REVO and Ediswan.

News

Reclaim Magazine - Back To Black

Reclaimed finds in dark hues, featuring skinflint's Elegant German pendant lights.

In the press

skinflint x Bert & May London pop-ups

Taking up residence at Bert & May’s Vyner Street store and Chelsea showroom from from 17 August until the end of the year in a collaboration celebrating the timeless design and heritage of skinflint’s vintage lighting range.

News

Lights Organised Neatly: 007

The latest in our series of Lights Organised Neatly features industrial British lighting salvaged from industrial sites around the UK.

Lights Organised Neatly

Latest releases: It's all in the detail

The latest restored lighting from the skinflint workshop, including linear industrial pendants by Thorlux and rare isolator wall lights salvaged from industrial sites in the UK.

News

Introducing AW18: New wave vintage fluorescent lighting

A first look at our AW18 Collection of vintage fluorescent LED lights, exclusively launching at Decorex International in London this 16-19 September.

News

skinflint meets: Bert & May

Celebrating our skinflint x Bert & May London pop-ups, we catch up with Bert & May founder Lee Thornley to find out the story behind the name, where he finds inspiration and the next exciting launch.

skinflint Meets

Living Etc - Dark Matter

Living Etc's Home Profile - studying Suszi Saunders stunning Victorian home that features skinflint decorative opaline pendant lights.

In the press

skinflint Meets: Paul de Zwart, Another Country

Next in our skinflint Meets series, we catch up with Another Country founder Paul de Zwart and talk design, furniture and influences.

skinflint Meets

Latest releases: XL glass pendants and naval bulkheads

The latest restored lighting out of the skinflint workshop, including munition store pendants once installed at a mine in Fife, Scotland, and 1950s US traffic lights.

News

Lights Organised Neatly: Czech lighting

Taking the everyday art of Things Organised Neatly into the skinflint workshop the latest in our series of Lights Organised Neatly features lighting salvaged from the former Czechoslovakia and Poland.

Lights Organised Neatly

Latest releases: Elegant industrial lighting

Including salvaged vintage street lights by BTH and stunning antique mirrored glass GECoRAY pendants.

News

Latest releases: XL industrial lighting

Including a unique XXL surgical pendant light and a copper 1950s street light by Wardle.

News

Latest releases: Polished metal

Including a Perihel medical heat lamp from the 1940s, and unique airfield traffic lights salvaged from an RAF base.

News

Latest releases: British heritage lighting

Including vintage lights by Holophane, GEC and Strand Electric.

News

skinflint Meets: Elvis & Kresse

Entrepreneur Kresse Wesling on innovative recycling, working with Burberry and how not to waste food.

skinflint Meets

skinflint Meets: Abigail Edwards, Designer

Next in our skinflint Meets series, we catch up with textile and wallpaper designer Abigail Edwards to talk all things pattern as well as discovering her favourite skinflint lights.

skinflint Meets

Latest releases: MOD lights & Art Deco chandeliers

Including ex MOD lights and an original Art Deco chandelier.

News

Latest releases: RAF lights & searchlights

Including polished aluminium RAF landing lights and a unique Francis floor standing searchlight.

News

Elle Decoration - featuring skinflint Eastern Bloc pendants

Elle Decoration's Spring Shopping Special - looking at unique finds from the best online shops including skinflint's stunning Eastern Bloc factory shades.

In the press

Eastern Bloc caged lighting in House & Garden

House & Gardens decorating feature looks at creative ideas and functional products for kitchens, featuring skinflint's Eastern Bloc factory lights.

In the press

A spotlight on the 1950s

The latest restored lighting from the skinflint studios.

News

House & Garden: Featuring Eastern Bloc pendants

House & Garden's cover feature looks at a stunning eighteenth-century house in Bath, featuring skinflint's Eastern Bloc factory shades.

In the press

Oxidised industrial pendants & a characterful table lamp

The latest releases from the skinflint studios - from industrial pendants from Hungary and Britain to a characterful table light salvaged from France.

News

Celebrating iconic British female designers

In celebration of International Women’s Day on 8 March 2018 the skinflint lighting team round up a few of their all-time favourite female British designers.

Stuff We Love

Reclaim: Issue twenty two, The Office

Reclaim magazines Ellie Tennant sources the latest in reclaimed office furniture and accessories, including skinflints vintage French table lamp.

In the press

The World of Interiors: featuring skinflint's US traffic lights

The World of interiors Max Egger 'delivers his lantern lecture' including brass lanterns, birdcages and skinflint's vintage yellow US traffic lights by LFE.

In the press

Eastern Bloc enamel pendants and salvaged street lanterns from Poland

Our latest lights - From large enamel pendants salvaged from the Eastern Bloc to industrial street lanterns from Poland.

News

Lights Organised Neatly: 005

Taking the everyday art of Things Organised Neatly into the skinflint workshop. The latest in our series of Lights Organised Neatly features our selection of vintage industrial white pendant lights.

Lights Organised Neatly

Industrial cargo ship bulkheads and retro Czech pendants

Our Latest Lights - From industrial bulkheads from German and Russian cargo ships to retro glass pendant lights salvaged from the former Czechoslovakia.

News

skinflint Meets: Pia Wustenberg, Designer

We caught up with designer Pia Wustenberg. Known for combining different materials to make an eclectic range of objects for the home.

skinflint Meets

Darc Magazine: An interview with skinflints Sophie Miller

Darc's assistant editor Emma Harris talks to skinflint's Sophie Miller about salvaging and restoring mid-century lighting.

In the press

skinflint Meets: Tom Pigeon, Creative Studio

We caught up with Kirsty Thomas – founder of Tom Pigeon to find out where she gets her inspiration and what’s next on the agenda.

skinflint Meets

The Concrete apartment in Nagoya Japan

One of our recent projects is The Concrete Apartment in Nagoya, Japan: designed by Keiichi Kiriyama of Airhouse Design Office.

Architecture

Lights Organised Neatly: 004

Taking the everyday art of Things Organised Neatly into the skinflint workshop. The latest in our series of Lights Organised Neatly features lighting from our polished metal lights collection and caged industrial lighting collection.

Lights Organised Neatly

British enamel pendants and statement aluminium lights from Poland

Our Latest Lights - From industrial enamel pendants by Benjamin and Cryselco to Large aluminium lights from Poland and Russia.

News

skinflint Meets: Melin Tregwynt, weavers and textile designers

We catch up with Eifion Griffiths, the third generation to run Welsh textile company, Melin Tregwynt and chat collaboration, inspiration and what it’s like to work in an 18th Century mill.

skinflint Meets

Industrial ceiling lights by Walsall and retro low profile pendants

Our Latest lights - from statement industrial ceiling and wall lights by Walsall to retro black low profile pendant lights from the 1960s.

News

skinflint meets: Tom Raffield, Designer and Maker

We catch up with fellow Cornish-based designer Tom Raffield and chat all things wood, trends and collaborations.

Architecture| skinflint Meets

Lights Organised Neatly: 003

Taking the everyday art of Things Organised Neatly into the skinflint workshop the third in our series of Lights Organised Neatly features lighting from our green enamel collection.

Lights Organised Neatly

Self Build & Design: Featuring skinflint's Czech glass wall lights

Featuring the latest wall lighting designs and vintage finds, from industrial shades to statement retro glassware.

In the press

Retro glass ceiling lights and a 1940s copper floor light

Our latest lights- From retro glass ceiling and pendant lights from the 1960s and 70s to a feature copper floor light from the 1940s.

News

skinflint receive a grant from the BIG2 Project

In 2016 skinflint were selected to receive a grant from the BIG2 Project.

News

Elegant opaline Czech pendants and Industrial British tank lights

Our latest lights- From elegant opaline pendant lights from the former Czechoslovakia to industrial British tanks lights. Circa 1950

News

Reclaim Issue Twenty: Featuring skinflint's Hungarian factory shades

How to introduce blue into the home using reclaimed finds, featuring skinflint's factory shades from the 1940s salvaged from industrial sites in Hungry.

In the press

skinflint meets: Loma-Ann Marks, Reclaim Magazine

The latest edition of our skinflint Meets series sees us catching up with Loma Marks, editor of Reclaim, talking all things reclamation and interior design.

skinflint Meets

Retro Czech glass wall lights and prismatic pendant

Our latest lights- Retro glass wall lights and prismatic pendant salvaged from the former Czechoslavia. Circa 1960 -1970.

News

Retro glass wall lights and vintage linear pendants

Our latest lights- From green enamel British linear pendants by REVO and Thorlux, to colourful retro wall lights salvaged from the former Czechoslovakia.

News

Reclaim Issue Eighteen: Ambient lighting

How to use ambient and accent lighting in the home to highlight a feature or object. Featuring skinflint's Rolls Royce collection, salvaged from the decommissioned Rolls-Royce factory in Derby.

In the press

British enamel pendant lights and vintage industrial wall lights

Our latest lights- From British enamel pendant lights by Benjamin to French industrial circular wall lights.

News

Grand Designs: News and inspiring ideas featuring skinflint 1930s Bauhaus factory lights

Reporposed lighting in the August edition of Grand Designs- featuring skinflint enamel 1930s factory lights.

In the press

Reclaim: skinflint US traffic lights in Yellow Fever

skinflint yellow US traffic lights in Reclaim, Issue seventeen, sourcing summery vintage finds for the home.

In the press

G.E.C street lights and Czech opaline glass globes

Our latest lights- From aluminium and prismatic glass street lights by G.E.C to vintage Czech opaline glass globes.

News

skinflint meets: Cambridge Imprint

We catch up with Claerwen James, Ali Murphy and Jane Powell the faces behind Cambridge Imprint and chat all things design, inspiration, and collaborations.

skinflint Meets

Elle decoration: skinflint Enamel ceiling light in tranquil greens

skinflints classic British racing green pendants by Benjamin featured in Julys edition of Elle Decoration. Exploring the latest trend for using calming green tones in the home.

In the press

Retro chandeliers new from skinflint

We have salvaged and restored two original 1970's chandelier-style pendants. Originally from the Czech Republic, they are substantial yet surprisingly delicate.

News

Lighting in Bathrooms, understanding IP Ratings

We are often asked about bathroom lighting and IP ratings. The fact of the matter is that it's not as straightforward as I Like that light, I'll buy it for my bathroom.

Lighting advice

Elle Decorations: Ornamental lighting, featuring skinflint 1950s stepped opaline pendant lights.

Elle Decorations June edition with it's beautifully vibrant Ardmore wallpaper cover looks at ornamental lighting, featuring skinflint's 1950s stepped opaline pendant lights.

In the press

Aluminium British fluorescents and US traffic lights

Our latest lights-From industrial fluorescent fittings to statement yellow US traffic lights.

News

Czech opaline lights and industrial Holophane pendants

Our latest lights-From industrial Holophane pendants to vintage opaline ceiling lights.

News

Elegant Silver and copper GECoRay Lights | skinflint

New to the collection are these Elegant Silver and copper examples of rare GEC GECoRay wall and ceiling lights:

Stuff We Love

Warehouse Home: White lights featuring skinflint opaline glass.

Issue 5- My Warehouse Home: Sourcing the latest in glass and opaline pendant lighting, including skinflint vintage opaline pendant lights.

In the press

Signal Lights and Hungarian Pendants

Our latest lights - from traffic lights to Hungarian piggery lights

News

1950's vintage church wall lights

With their interesting history these 1950's vintage wall lights salvaged from St Barnabas church in London's Bethnal Green are a real find:

News

Essential Kitchen Bedroom and Bathroom: Q&A on bedroom lighting with skinflint's Sophie Miller

skinflint Director Sophie Miller talks to EKBB's Hayley Gilbert on how to make the most of your kitchen lighting, from planning your lighting design to creating layering effects.

In the press

Spring Summer 2017 The Rolls-Royce Collection

Our Spring/Summer collection for 2017 is salvaged from the mothballed Rolls-Royce factory in Derby, UK. Quite simply, it's one of the best collections in our history.

News

Spring Summer Collection 2017 Rolls Royce Lights

Our Spring/Summer collection for 2017 is salvaged from the mothballed Rolls-Royce factory in Derby, UK. With lighting to suit every project it's one of the best historical collections we have had.

News

skinflint Meets: Timorous Beasties, pattern design studio

Fans of their vibrant patterns since they launched in 1990, we couldn’t resist catching up with the duo behind Timorous Beasties - in the latest instalment of skinflint Meets.

skinflint Meets

Reclaim Issue Eleven: Pure and natural, bringing the outdoors inside

skinflint's machinists wall light in Reclaim magazine, exploring 'the colour of the year' natural green, and how to use vintage accessories to bring a sense of the outdoors inside.

In the press

Elle Decoration: skinflint's lighting collection for Heal's

skinflint for Heal's: Exploring skinflint's vintage lighting collection for Heal's showroom in West London, featuring skinflint's Eastern Bloc caged factory pendants.

In the press

Reclaim: skinflint Hungarian factory shades in 'The Edit'

From tea cups to lighting, Reclaim are looking at their favourite finds including skinflint blue enamel Hungarian factory shades.

In the press

Vintage Lighting Restored - skinflint film

A glimpse behind the scenes showing the story of a skinflint light from sourcing through restoration to it's final installation...

News

I: Journalist Kate Watson-Smyth on how to by vintage lighting

Mad about the House journalist and writer Kate Watson-Smyth advises on buying vintage lighting, featuring skinflint US traffic lights, American runway lights and vintage medical floor light.

In the press

Lights Organised Neatly: 001

Taking the everyday art of Things Organised Neatly into the skinflint workshop the first in our series of Lights Organised Neatly features lighting from our oxide collection.

Lights Organised Neatly

New Autumn Winter lighting for 2016

As the evenings draw in our new collection concentrates on using opaline glass to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

News

Style inspiration from our new collection of opaline glassware:

With the nights drawing in and shorter days just around the corner, we have put together a selection of images from our recent photoshoot to give you some styling ideas for our Autumn Winter 2016 collection of white opaline glass lights:

Interiors

Reclaim: Interview with skinflint's Sophie Miller

Director Sophie Miller talks to Reclaim about all things skinflint, from the history of the lights to her current favourites.

In the press

Vintage dentists lights adapted and restored

For months, we've been patiently restoring three 1960s dentists lights, recovered from surgeries in the north of England. Finally, they're ready to show you.

News

Manor South West: Let there be light, a discussion with skinflints Sophie Miller

Manor magazines Fiona Mcgowan discusses all things vintage lighting with skinflint Director Sophie Miller.

In the press

Vintage British lighting brands: a short history

Britains fast, competitive industrial lighting sector in the mid-20th century means there are often distinctive vintage lighting designs to be found today.

Lighting History

skinflint railway signal pendants in Mays edition of Reclaim

Reclaims Edit, vintage and repurposed items for your home, featuring skinflint's colourful prismatic glass railway signal lights.

In the press

How to Buy Vintage Lighting

We are often asked how to buy vintage lighting, so when Kate Watson Smyth from the excellent blog Mad about the house asked us we finally put our heads together to answer:

Lighting advice

skinflint meets: Sophie Bush, founder and editor of Warehouse Home

Today we start a new series on our blog in which we catch up with influencers from the world of interiors. First up is Sophie Bush, founder of Warehouse Home.

skinflint Meets

The Douglas motorcycle factory lights

The classic British motorcycle the Douglas is a piece of British history in it's own right. The lights we have sourced illuminated the workshop floor as the 3000 strong team built motorcycles from the early 1920's until the factory closed in the 1950's.

Lighting History

Grand Designs: skinflint's Hungarian factory shades in Reclaimed features

Grand Designs June edition explores ways of adding charcter to your project, featuring skinflint's reclaimed oxidised pendant lights.

In the press

skinflint meets: Mini Moderns

Read more from Keith Stephenson and Mark Hampshire, founders of interiors brand Mini Moderns, on their influences and favourite lights from the skinflint collection.

skinflint Meets

Utopia Kitchen & Bathroom: Featuring skinflint's oxide collection

News: These oxidised pendant lights from skinflint’s Oxide collection will give your kitchen a cl...

In the press

Self Build & Design: Creating the mood with skinflint's oxidised pendants

skinflint's oxidised Hungarian pendant lights in Self Build & Design's January issue, looking at the ways kitchen lighting can be used to create a mood.

In the press

A selection of our latest lifestyle photography

A selection of our latest lifestyle photography, featuring in addition to our own lights and props, papers and books by Cambridge Imprint.

Interiors

Elle Decoration: Featuring skinflint's latest lighting collection

Elle Decorations latest edition takes a look at skinflint's newest range of vintage lighting, from industrial pendants by REVO to elegant opaline shades from the 1950s.

In the press

Spring Summer Collection 2015

Our New Collection for Spring 2015 focuses on reclaimed work lights, each with its own original story to tell and all sourced from a diverse range of locations, please click on the product that interests you to find out more:

News

Victorian asylum wall lights

Some of the history behind our English wall mounted reading lights which were salvaged from a Victorian lunatic asylum in the Midlands, UK. Circa 1950. Widely utilised

Architecture

Rare Map Reading Lights by Horstmann

The Horstmann Pluslite' is a vintage English desk lamp originally designed for map reading. Circa 1940. These lovely examples would have illuminated the desks and maps of WW2 and beyond.

News

Fire brigade Search light

One of the rarities we are occasionally lucky enough to find are searchlights; large in scale t...

Lighting History

Taking time out to explore the beautiful city of Prague

Photos from our recent trip to the Czech republic

Architecture

Vintage Art Deco Lighting

Here at skinflint we are big fans of Art Deco and the stylish lighting which was produced in what was actually a relatively short era of design history.

Stuff We Love

The Pyestock story

The latest collection from the skinflint workshop comprises entirely of lights from one specific location: The National Gas Turbine Establishment, known simply as Pyestock, it was the place the jet engine as we know it was nurtured and grew to supersonic speeds.

Architecture| Stuff We Love

A selection of incredible images from the Pyestock site.

A selection of incredible images from the Pyestock site.

Architecture

Behind the scenes at our recent workshop photoshoot

A short 'behind the scenes' film from our recent workshop photo shoot, showing some of the processes our lights go through from their arrival to the finished product

Stuff We Love

The story behind our Dunlop Aerospace Lights

A small part of the story behind our Dunlop Aerospace Lights

Stuff We Love

Dunlop Aerospace Lights in their original setting

Some images of the Dunlop Aerospace lights in their original setting.

Architecture

Cockenzie Power Station

The team at skinflint were thrilled to salvage the majority of the lights from the former power station at Cockenzie in Scotland. Many well known lighting brands such as Benjamin, Lacent and Holophane were installed to illuminate cavernous halls that once echoed with the roar of turbines powered by coal fired furnaces.

Architecture

Cockenzie coal fired power station in pictures

The team at skinflint were thrilled to salvage the majority of the lights from the former power station at Cockenzie in Scotland. Here we present a small collection of images of the Power station's monumental exterior and evocative interior.

Architecture

US Traffic Lights

It's such an evocative image isn't it? The American traffic light hanging over the road, the stuff of so many films. That's exactly where our US traffic light pendants started their lives.

Lighting History

Ozone Coffee roasters

We recently supplied our lighting to East London Coffee Roasters Ozone, check out this short film explaining what they do and sneak a peek at our lovely lights in the background!

Stuff We Love

Perihel Sunlamp and Mixray

Perihel light therapy lamps are a rarity which we are occasionally lucky to find. They were manufactured in many different styles for home use from single head sun lamps to the deluxe twin headed infar red and ultraviolet. With their over engineered elegant detailing, these lamps were developed by Perihel for the once popular light therapy and were used both in hospital settings and at home.

Lighting History

Pirelli Factory Warehouses

Beautiful images of the derelict interior of the Pirelli Factory and warehouses in Burton On Trent.

Architecture

The Benjamin Electric Lighting Company

The Benjamin Electric Lighting company was founded in the late 19th Century by Reuben Berkley Benjamin in Chicago, Illinois. The companies success lead to expantion from Chicago to New York, San Francisco, Toronto, London & Birmingham.

Lighting History

Light Show Hayward | Hayward Gallery | London

Light Show opens at London's Hayward Gallery on Wednesday 30th January and explores the experiential and phenomenal aspects of light by bringing together sculptures and installations that use light to sculpt and shape space in different ways. We can't wait!

Stuff We Love

GravityLight- inspirational design for developing countries

Here at skinflint we love clever sustainable design and the GravityLight is both. Offering a real alternative to Africa's ubiquitous kerosene lamps, the only thing it uses is the force of gravity.

Stuff We Love

Berndnaut Smilde creating ephemeral clouds

Dutch artist Berndnaut Smilde's fascination with the ephemeral has led him to master the art of creating his own clouds.

Stuff We Love

Fipel Technology

Scientists in Wake Forest University in North Carolina have developed a alternative to fluorescent lighting using polymers.

Stuff We Love

No. 001: Prismalux Bulkhead by Wardle

A stop motion video documenting a Prismalux bulkhead during its restoration process.

Stuff We Love

Images from our Vintage Pifco Heatlamp catalogue

A lovely selection if images from our original 1960's Pifco Infradette catalogue

Lighting History

Think New: Climate change, Energy, Action

A lovely short animation about changing habits relating to CO2 consumption

Stuff We Love

A Brilliant Idea: The LED Story

A beautiful short film, illustrating why LED bulbs are the future, saving the planet energy and CO2, and saving you money.

Stuff We Love

Monumental Light: James Turrell's Skyspaces

James Turrell is an artist whose palette is the planet we live on. He makes light monumental and encourages his audience to look 'beyond', to see the extraordinary in the every day.

Stuff We Love

Holophane' a short History Of Prismatic Lighting

Holophane began to manufacture prismatic shades pretty much at the birth of electricity. Prismatic shades break up and spread the beam of light into a myriad of beams using prisms, making a lower voltage bulb a more effective light source.

Lighting History